It's a Long Story

Chapter 11

"Mama, can you tell Wyatt he has to share with me?!!?" Maddie screeches in anger.

"Share what, my love?" I ask her. She glares at me.

"Mom, he has my tablet. I want it back!" she pouts.

"Wyatt, give me the tablet." I command. He looks like he is going to protest and then he stops and hands it to me.

"No more tablet until tomorrow. Got it?" I say to both of them. They both groan and Maddie says something about it being unfair and it was all Wyatt's fault. Wyatt just grumbles about how his sister sucks.

"Ma! I am teaching rookie how to sit! Rocky is showing me!" Sammy looks thrilled, and Rocky looks like she is enjoying herself as well.

"That's awesome! Make sure you thank her." I smile and I turn and look for the twins, who are sound asleep on Noah's lap, cuddling with each other. Caroline is drawing in her coloring book in the corner. Penny is sitting with her, drawing something too. The movie is still playing, but only Noah is watching it. Maddie and Wyatt started playing another game of, push and shove. I should probably break that up.

"Madeline Rose and Wyatt Alexander" I call out, they stop immediately and point at each other and at once cry out "he started it" and "she started it".

"I don't care who started it, but you do not hit your siblings." I scold. "Now apologize". This earns a moan from both of them, but they do. Wyatt walks over to Sammy, Rocky and Rookie, and Maddie walks over to Caroline and Penny. They start playing calmly with the new groups. I sit on the couch next to Noah and the twins. He wraps his arm around my shoulder and holds me close to him.

"You smell" I say, scrunching up my nose. He playfully bops my nose.

"Well I haven't had the chance to shower yet." He replies.

"What, this month? Ew" I laugh.

"No, today. I showered yesterday." He defends. I giggle, and he looks self conscious.

"I am joking. I'm sorry." I whisper and I smack a kiss on his cheek. He smiles a little, and then we focus back on the movie.

A few hours later, it is finally time for everyone to go to bed. Sammy carries Josie upstairs, and Rocky carries Mason. Caroline is sounds asleep in my arms, and Noah is holding Maddie. Wyatt and Sammy are the only kids awake. Everyone files into their bedrooms, after all of the kids are in bed, the adults go downstairs.

"What are we going to do with the puppy?" I ask to no one in particular.

"Use the baby gates to gate the puppy into the kitchen." Rocky says without thinking.

"Good idea" I walk to the garage and grab a two gates, and put them at both entrances to the kitchen. Rocky, Penny, and Noah sit in the living room, and they have a few glasses and a few different bottles of alcohol. I grab a wine glass and pour myself some red wine. Rocky goes straight for the bourbon, her favorite. Penny, has a glass of red wine like me. Noah grabs a beer and we all sit and talk.

"Cate, there is no way that mom didn't know? I mean come on, how could you hide tattoos like that without her noticing?" Penny laughs.

"I am telling you, mom is not observant at all. I just wore a lot of longer pants." everyone is laughing. They all met her, they know she isn't observant.

"Okay, I guess you are right... Did you know I have tattoos?" She asks. I stop laughing and give her a look. She looks nervous suddenly and she is squirming.

"Penelope. Do you think that I didn't know? Of course I knew. You are so bad at keeping secrets. Plus sometimes when you get really drunk, you take off all of your clothes. I used to put you in my bathroom when you would do that." I say seriously. Her face flushes a deep rouge. I laugh and so does Rocky. Noah just sips his beer.